Chapter 57: A Cold Reception

“Mom, Dad, please don’t use your ideas to restrict my actions, all right? What era are we living in now? The twentieth century, the nineties. It’s no longer your time, when falling in love felt like committing a crime!”

Unhappy, Liu Qian, for the first time ever, stood up to her parents. Her image as the obedient daughter shattered in an instant, forced by their pressure. Lin Yongfen’s eyes widened in disbelief.

Is this still her daughter? The one who was always so gentle and sensible, never disobeyed them? She’s changed! Their daughter had become incomprehensible, rebellious, and blind to their feelings!

“It’s all your fault for spoiling her!” Lin Yongfen, overwhelmed by anger, vented her fury onto Liu Mingli. Already feeling stifled, Liu Mingli was pushed to the edge.

“So, you think you’ve grown up, that times have changed and we’re too old to control you, is that it? Let me tell you, Liu Qian, give up any thought of continuing to see that boy! Don’t embarrass us!”

He dared not direct his anger at Lin Yongfen, so he poured it all out on Liu Qian, his words not only fiery but harsh, his face contorted with fury.

Liu Qian said nothing. Her father had never spoken to her like this before; it was clear he was truly angry. Though her own heart was burning with rage, she knew she couldn’t push back any further. If she drove her father to distress, she’d live with guilt all her life, a debt she could never repay.

Lin Yongfen, too, refrained from pressing further after Liu Mingli’s words. Their daughter was proud, fiercely self-respecting; her husband’s words had already wounded her. If she continued, it might provoke a complete rupture, making their stubborn daughter turn against them.

Thus, the house fell silent, so quiet that a pin could be heard dropping. The awkward tension spread, especially for Liu Qian, uneasy under her parents’ sharp gaze.

At that moment—

Knock, knock, knock…

Someone suddenly rapped on the door.

“Who is it?” Liu Mingli, already irritated, called out gruffly. The house was a mess; who had the mood for guests now? If someone overheard, wouldn’t it become a joke for the whole neighborhood? It was best if the visitor sensed the tense atmosphere and left of their own accord.

But unexpectedly—

“Uncle, I’m Liu Qian’s classmate!”

Liu Qian’s classmate?

At once, Liu Qian tensed, her heart pounding wildly.

“Why is that donkey here now? Isn’t this just adding fuel to the fire?”

“Liu Qian’s classmate?” Liu Mingli’s expression changed, his anger surging even higher as he glared at Liu Qian, almost shooting flames from his eyes.

So, he’d come right to their home! A blatant disregard for the authority of adults, as if they meant nothing!

“Liu Qian, what’s going on? Is he the boy your father mentioned?” Lin Yongfen’s brows shot up as she looked at Liu Qian, her face darkening.

Shameless! After the girl’s father exposed her early romance, instead of feeling guilty or avoiding them, the boy brazenly showed up at their door! Is this the shamelessness brought by changing times?

“I’ll get the door,” Liu Qian said, surprisingly calm. Wu Ya’s sudden visit made her uncomfortable, but she knew it came from his concern for her—he feared yesterday’s incident would lead to endless parental reproach, perhaps robbing her of freedom before school started.

He didn’t want her to suffer.

A surge of warmth prompted her to make a decision. Since Wu Ya had come, she might as well face things head-on. Sooner or later, the matter would have to be cleared up. Besides, what shame was there in Wu Ya? Why should her family look down on him? In just a few hours, he’d earned more than her parents could ever dream of in a lifetime. Such a boy hadn’t looked down on her!

With a creak, the door swung open and Wu Ya stepped inside.

“Hello, Uncle, Aunt,” Wu Ya greeted politely, setting his gift bags on the table. It was his first visit; he couldn’t come empty-handed. The packages were filled with expensive, popular nutritional supplements.

But to Liu Mingli, these items only deepened his resentment.

“Take your things and get out of our house!” he shouted, his anger echoing through the room.

What is this? Poor background, no composure, and these gifts must cost several hundred! Can their family afford such things? Pretending to be wealthy—this was not respect, but empty vanity! Plus, with his own circumstances, only barely qualifying for a provincial university—how could he be a match for their daughter? They weren’t even in the same league.

Liu Mingli not only looked down on Wu Ya but also thoroughly disliked him, so his words were completely blunt.

“That’s right. Our family doesn’t welcome you, and Liu Qian is not someone you should even dream of! Give up, don’t embarrass yourself or make trouble for us!” Lin Yongfen quickly echoed, standing entirely with Liu Mingli.

It was her first time meeting Wu Ya, but her impression matched Liu Mingli’s exactly. Wu Ya’s background was clearly from a poor farming family, the kind that had to struggle for every meal, and a day off meant no dinner. Such background, such origin—how could they allow him to continue seeing their daughter, risking her happiness for life?

People strive upwards, water flows down. This was her daughter’s future, her lifelong happiness. They had to act decisively, speak harshly, and deliver a blow to crush his hopes once and for all!

The air grew even more awkward. Wu Ya’s smile froze.

“Uncle, Aunt, I didn’t come for anything else today. I just wanted to introduce myself and see you.”

He hadn’t expected such a reception; not only was there no hint of welcome, there wasn’t even the pretense of warmth. He’d come in hopes of sharing Liu Qian’s burden, only to be met with hostility before he could even give his name.

But he had no choice. He couldn’t get angry. Liu Qian was his regret in his previous life, his pursuit in this one. Her parents would be his future in-laws; how could he offend them?

So he forced a stiff smile and offered a feeble explanation, not hoping for a change of attitude or to be allowed to stay—just wishing to ease the tension, to avoid leaving in humiliation.

But he was mistaken...